Taking the professional engineer examination is a watershed event in an engineering career. The first piece, 180 multiple-choice questions, is taken prior to a four-year mentoring relationship with a professional engineer. With that engineer's recommendation, you may take the second part of the test, the specialty module for your chosen field of engineering. It tests both your technical skill and you understanding of engineering practices.

The NCEES

The National Council for Examiners of Engineering and Surveying is the organization that administers and grades the two-part professional engineer examination, commonly known as the PE. The NCEES examination is the standard examination for licensing as a PE in all 50 states. An engineer only need pass the professional engineer examination once.

Two Parts

Whether you are a student who's about to receive his BS in engineering, or a mid-life career-changer with a long-unused engineering degree, you must file an application for licensing as a professional engineer in the state in which you wish to practice. This application allows you to take the professional engineer exam. The test is given in two parts. You must pass the first part, called the FE, or fundamentals of engineering examination, to be designated an engineer-in-training. An EIT cannot independently approve any plan or design, but rather works under the tutelage of a professional engineer. Like an intern, you may find yourself detailed to oversee the completion of designs or project documents. After the internship, which lasts a minimum of four years, your mentor will give a recommendation to the state licensing board for engineers that allows you to take the second part of the examination. This part tests your ability within one of the 26 engineering specialties. If you pass, you will be granted a license as a professional engineer by the state.

Part 1, FE

The fundamentals of engineering examination lasts eight hours. It is given in two four-hour sessions over the course of one day. In the morning, you face 120 multiple-choice questions ranging from engineering mathematics to thermodynamics. The second part of the FE exam is 60 questions drawn from one of the specialties in engineering. If your degree is or will be in mechanical engineering, for example, you would choose the mechanical engineering question module. You can also select a module described by the NCEES as Other Engineering, which features in-depth questions on the subjects in the morning exam. The scores for the examination are posted on the NCEES website, eight to 10 weeks after you complete the FE examination.

Part 2, Specialty

Following four years as the successful protégé of a professional engineer and upon his recommendation, you are eligible to take the professional engineering practices section of the examination. The NCEES reports that the examination is eight hours long and is made up of both a morning and an afternoon session. It is offered in April and October each year. The subjects covered in the individual examination modules, which include all 26 specialties within the scope of the practice of engineering, are posted online at the NCEES website as part of the notice of examination dates.

About the Author

Will Charpentier is a writer who specializes in boating and maritime subjects. A retired ship captain, Charpentier holds a doctorate in applied ocean science and engineering. He is also a certified marine technician and the author of a popular text on writing local history.

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